Why is the Korean government responding to the U.S. polysilicon tariff now?

The government is responding because the U.S. imposed a 15 percent tariff on polysilicon derivative products, creating concerns about Korean exports and supply chains in the United States. The ministry said it wants to assess the impact and provide timely support for local businesses.

Gov't, businesses meet over US polysilicon tariffs

Q: When will the new U.S. polysilicon tariff take effect and under what authority?

The tariff is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 4, U.S. time. Trump imposed it under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the president to adjust imports on national security grounds.

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Summary

Korea’s trade ministry met in Seoul on Tuesday with relevant ministries and companies to discuss the impact of new U.S. tariffs on polysilicon and possible countermeasures. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister for Trade Park Jung-sung and included Samsung Electronics and OCI Company. Officials discussed ways to reduce the impact on exports and supply chains of Korean firms in the United States. The U.S. tariff takes effect on Dec. 4 under Section 232.

Key Facts

The meeting included officials from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Samsung Electronics, OCI Company and other related companies.
The trade ministry said participants reviewed the impact of the tariffs on exports by Korean companies and on the supply chains of Korean firms operating in the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the proclamation last week imposing a 15 percent tariff on polysilicon derivative products.
The new trade measure is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 4, U.S. time.
The tariff was imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 11, 2026 11:17 am KST

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a signed proclamation regarding polysilicon imports in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday (local time). AP-Yonhap

Korea's trade ministry on Tuesday held a meeting with relevant ministries and companies to discuss the impact of the latest U.S. tariffs on polysilicon and possible countermeasures.

Officials from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Samsung Electronics, OCI Company, a key materials supplier, and other related companies attended the meeting, which was presided over by Deputy Minister for Trade Park Jung-sung.

They discussed measures to minimize the impact of Washington's latest tariffs, including assessing their effects on exports by Korean companies and the supply chains of Korean firms operating in the United States, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said in a press release.

"The government will make every effort to provide timely and targeted support for local businesses," Park said.

The meeting came after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation last week imposing a 15 percent tariff on polysilicon derivative products, with the new trade measure set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 4 (U.S. time).

Trump took the latest tariff action under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, a law that gives the president authority to adjust imports when he determines that they threaten to impair national security.

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